in 1980, ronald reagan is repeatedly attacked by president carter for his stance on health care. >> governor reagan, as a matter of fact, began his political career campaigning around this nation against medicare. >> but reagan wins fans and the election by staying cool. >> there you go again. >> four years later, president reagan again uses humor to handle attacks on his age during his debate with walter mondale. >> i want you to know that also, i will not make age an issue of this campaign. i am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience. >> in the next election, democratic candidate michael dukakis is asked this controversial question in his debate with vice president george w. bush. >> governor, if kitty dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer? >> no, i don't. i think you know i have opposed the death penalty during all of my life. >> the public sees his answer as cold and dispassionate and that very night, his poll numbers dropped. during the 1988 vice presidential debate, republican senator dan q